'''Alleluia''' –Hymnis a liturgical hymn sung both during the Divine Liturgy and the Western Rite Mass before the reading of the [[gospel|Gospel]]. Technically, the word means ''Praise YHWH!the Lord'' .

It is found many times in the [[Psalter|book of psalmsPsalms]]. Like [[Amen]] or [[Hosanna]], the words have stayed close to word has been used in the Church in its original Hebrew.

It's ==Byzantine Usage==In the Divine Liturgy as celebrated in the Eastern Church, Alleluia is sung either three times without a refrain (in Greek practice) or nine times with a refrain (in Slavic practice) as a prelude to the [[gospel]] reading of the day, just after the apostolic reading at the [[Divine Liturgy]]. It is also sung as a funeral dirge, and at most other Orthodox services.  ==Western Rite Usage==In the Western Rite [[Liturgy of St. Gregory|Mass]], the Alleluia occurs at the same place as in the Byzantine liturgy, immediately before the Gospel reading. The Alleluia is is chanted straight-through rather than antiphonally but contains a one-verse refrain, something of a cross between Greek and Slavic uses. The Western Rite form begins by chanting the word "Alleluia" twice, followed by a one-verse refrain that varies by the Mass, and concludes by repeating "Alleluia" once again. In Western Rite practice, the Alleluia is not chanted from Septuagesima to Holy Saturday.